5 Tips Seasoned Parents Swear By To Make Life With Kids Easier

For the Norman Rockwell family, the holidays are a quiet time of peace, love and togetherness. However, several weeks of school-free kids, cooped up in cold weather along with visiting relatives and in-laws never seem to paint the same pretty picture!This is not to say that each family has exactly the same dynamic at holiday times, but rather, often we become paralyzed by our own expectations of the ‘ideal’ family get-together.That’s why I’m never surprised that as the season approaches, apprehensive attention deficit disorder (ADHD or ADD) families ask how they’ll ever “get through it”.

December 22, 2022Older adults with a genetic risk for ADHD may be more susceptible to cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD).1 These results, published recently in Molecular Psychiatry, shed light on ADHD-related vulnerability to cognitive impairments as people age.The ADHD polygenic risk score (ADHD-PRS) “represents the combined genetic liability for the disorder” and “is highly associated with ADHD diagnosis and related traits in independent clinical and population samples.” Researchers found that a higher ADHD-PRS was associated with greater decline of cognitive performance and memory impairment over time, and persistent executive function deficits compared to participant baselines. Study participants included adults aged 55 to 90 without a clinical diagnosis for ADHD or cognitive impairments.The Preclinical Alzheimer’s Cognitive Composite (PACC) detects early signs of decline in cognitive function and was adapted to the current study.

Supporting your child with a chronic tic disorder, including Tourette’s disorder, largely involves reducing the shame, anxiety, and other stressors that aggravate and reinforce tics. Helping others – like teachers, classmates, and family members – understand tics is also important to creating a helpful, supportive environment for your child.Along with evidence-based treatments for tic disorders, like behavior therapy and medication, follow these strategies to uplift your child in school and at home.Even if it’s a “good” or “bad” reaction, drawing attention to tics in any way will reinforce and possibly aggravate them. Strive to create a tic-neutral environment as much as possible.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends treating ADHD in children and adolescents with FDA-approved medications, plus parent training in behavior modification and behavioral classroom interventions. Likewise, research confirms that “stimulant medications are most effective, and combined medication and psychosocial treatment is the most beneficial treatment option for most adult patients with ADHD.” Still, many individuals seek to augment their ADHD treatment plans with natural therapies ranging from nutrition and vitamins and herbs and fish oil.“Parents and adults see me either because the ADHD medication isn’t doing the job, or they want more improvement and can’t increase the dosage without increasing side effects,” says Richard Brown, M.D., associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, and co-author of the recent book How to Use Herbs, Nutrients, and Yoga in Mental Health Care.Here are 10 of the most popular natural ADHD remedies — including foods, ADHD supplements, and herbs — and research findings for each suggesting whether adding them to your treatment plan might unlock better focus, attention, and motivation.Keep in mind that all ADHD treatment decisions should be made in consultation and coordination with a licensed medical provider.Poor nutrition can cause a child or adult with ADHD to become distracted, impulsive, and restless.

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“The word ‘happy’ would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness.” ~Carl Jung

“Literally every person is messed up, so pick your favorite train wreck and roll with it.” ~Hannah Marbach

As parents, we have to discipline our children to help them to grow into the best possible people. However, some discipline strategies do stand above the rest, while others will only lead your child to walk on eggshells around you.Did you know that your discipline strategies could be making your child anxious? While some forms of discipline can be extremely effective, others can be counterproductive, because if your child is anxious as a result of your discipline, it isn’t likely that it will be effective. Here are 4 ineffective discipline strategies that make your child anxious.When your discipline strategy is far over the top for the action your child has taken, it is going to leave them on edge.

As kids begin to learn the ropes, they also learn how far they can push limits. While it may be hard to face, for some, a major part of this can manifest as manipulation.No parent wants to admit their child is manipulating them, but the sooner you nip this behavior in the bud, the sooner you put a stop to it. The last thing you want to do is give in to your child’s manipulation.

The end of the year is always that special time where people start reflecting on the past 350-ish days and planning for the next 365. It’s a time where many of us love to write out goals for the upcoming New Year — some might call them “resolutions.”

How much do I need for retirement? Time to get your head out of the sand and do some easy number crunching to find out where you are and where you need to be. Remember this: anticipation is the ultimate power. Losers react; leaders anticipate.Failing to and just hoping Social Security will carry you through retirement is a recipe for disaster.

It takes someone 33-100 milliseconds to form an opinion and impression of who you are. Sadly, in those few micro-moments, regardless of reality-most people will decide who you are and then use that judgment as a filter for relating to you.If their opinion is not good-that sadly is not likely to change. With that being said, if you have a feeling that people are getting the wrong impression of you-it may be time to take action for making better impressions moving forward.

Wendy Yehia is one of the coaches that we found this month and we did a little interview with her. She impressed us with her vast skillset, experience, and holistic approach. Her coaching focuses on women who want to step into their divine feminine power and ignite that magical spark within. She approaches her clients […]

Think a little less about managing your problems and a little more about managing your focus.Ready to finish the year strong?Inner peace and progress are both built through small daily victories. It’s the individual choices we make day to day that make us whole in the long run.

Alev Bayrak is one of the coaches that we found this month and we did a little interview with her. She impressed us with her courage and strength of character. Her coaching approach is all about bringing more clarity for her clients by deeply listening and showing them angles to look at they were not […]

Nursing remains one of the most challenging jobs in the healthcare industry. The need for nurses is expected to rise by 9% through 2030. And while the stats predict nursing to stay a secure profession in the future, it does not eradicate the fact that it is physically and emotionally draining to be a part […]

Stimulant medications and behavioral therapy are considered first-line treatments for ADHD in children, but caregivers know that multimodal treatment plans work best for easing symptoms. What does “multimodal” look like in real life? In a recent ADDitude poll of about 1,000 webinar attendees, about 50% said stimulants and/or non-stimulants have “improved their child’s ADHD-associated learning and behavior challenges the most.” The other half said the following lifestyle factors had the biggest impact:Comments and questions submitted during the webinar, titled “Genes and the Environment: How Biology and Exposures Contribute to ADHD in Children,” centered on the lifestyle and environmental factors with the biggest impact on ADHD symptoms.Diet, exercise, and sleep are the Big Three — the lifestyle changes with the most significant, most scientifically proven effect on ADHD.

Not available January 5? Don’t worry. Register now and we’ll send you the replay link to watch at your convenience.For well-intentioned procrastinators, the start of each New Year is an exciting time for setting new goals—until our enthusiasm wanes, our momentum slows, and our commitment slides.

Does social media harm teens? The answer is complicated.Alarming news reports and research on social media are common — and understandably troubling to caregivers and professionals — today. One recent study found that teens who reported spending more than 3 hours a day on social media may face an elevated risk for mental health problems compared to teens who used no social media.1 Instagram’s internal study found that its app worsens mental health in teen girls.2 And that platform is one of several that have been hit with lawsuits claiming harm to youth.345However, that is not the full story.

Not available January 11? Don’t worry. Register now and we’ll send you the replay link to watch at your convenience.Does your tween or teen seem to lack all motivation? Do they need aggressive reminders to begin tasks — especially those they’ve put off for as long as possible? Is it almost always a struggle to finish?Many adolescents with ADHD stall out when trying to start and/or complete assignments and tasks, especially when they are no fun, boring, or challenging.

Mely Nieves is one of the coaches that we found this month and we did a little interview with her. She impressed us with her strength of character and dedication. Her coaching is all about helping you find faith that anything is possible. She is always learning and improving her skillset to be able to […]

As the winter approaches, everyone works on making prompt adjustments to get settled into the new season. You might dislike the harsh climate or love the snow and the merriments the season brings. But one common thing is the desire to stay healthy and not let yourself go during these lazy months.10 Ways to Stay […]

Virtual reality games with stimuli to punch or avoid. Video games requiring problem-solving strategies to save the galaxy from a meteor storm.

The holiday season can be joyful, stressful, difficult, or beautiful. It all depends on what you’re going through.

We as parents have so much influence over our kids and their well-being. Typically, when we think of how we influence our kids, we tend to think big, but the thing is- it’s the simple things that make the biggest difference.Think about it: what behaviors of your parents made or broke you growing up? I am going to bet that it was in the small repeated behaviors or the habitual lack of certain behaviors. For example, my mom always made family meals a big deal.

When you hear the phrase ‘gaslighting’ it’s likely you may think of an abusive spouse, partner, or even parent, however, kids can gaslight their parents, too. Adult children, specifically, can abuse their parents just as easily as anyone else, it just isn’t discussed frequently enough.First and foremost, let’s define what gaslighting is, and go ahead and get that out of the way. Gaslighting is the act of purposefully making someone else doubt their own version of reality, with the intention of making them doubt their own sanity.

When it comes to values that we should instill in our children, independence and responsibility tend to be at the top of the list. However, it can be hard to strike the balance between tending to our babies and fostering independence.Thankfully, there are a few things we can do to encourage our little ones to grow into strong-minded and independent adults. “Independent thinking children develop higher levels of confidence and have increased self-esteem,” says Carole Kramer Arsenault, a licensed family therapist who is the founder and CEO of Boston Baby Nurse.

Q: “When the holidays roll around, my kids’ ADHD symptoms get worse. They stay up late, sleep in, and have no daily structure. When family comes over, my younger one retreats and my older one wants to escape to see friends.

A recent experience with my 2-year-old son gave me pause. One evening, after returning him to his room for the tenth time so he could get to sleep, I watched him walk onto his floor mat, take a short step to his left, and then gently step on each of the grey arrows that make up the mat’s pattern. When he reached the last arrow, he stopped.

“Sometimes deciding who you are is deciding who you’ll never be again.” ~Anonymous

TRIGGER WARNING: This post references sexual abuse and may be triggered to some people.

Q: “It’s a few months into the school year, and it is clear that my third grader’s IEP isn’t working. I’ve spoken to the school, and they agree that changes would be beneficial. However, we just had her annual IEP meeting last May.

There are books upon books on parenting, but the best advice doesn’t always come from a psychologist. Actually, the best parenting advice comes from crafty parents who know the ropes of parenting and are nice enough to share with the rest of us.When the going gets tough, the best thing to do is get creative. Don’t be afraid to improvise and who knows, you might come up with a useful parenting hack of your own.

The bond shared between father and daughter is a uniquely special bond. Despite our society’s desire to pretend like gender differences do not exist, fathers must approach their parenting duties with their daughters differently than they would with their sons.Throughout the journey of fatherhood, more specifically being a father of a daughter, the father will be faced with harsh truths that can be difficult to face. While you may be thinking that I am insinuating that daughters are more difficult, it’s less of that and more so that these obstacles are typically rooted in the inherent differences between father and daughter.Most fathers, unless they were raised around younger sisters, are going to struggle with how to approach being the father of a daughter.

There is no such thing as a perfect parent, and we all make mistakes. The thing is, though, is that if we are informed by the mistakes of others and use them to learn and evolve as a parent, we can make the best possible choices for our little ones.A lot of parenting mistakes are innocent enough on the surface. Either it doesn’t seem like that big of a deal, or we are simply repeating the mistakes of our parents.

When our children don’t listen, our first instinct is to label them as ‘bad’ or ‘stubborn.’ However, the vast majority of the time, if your kid isn’t listening to you regularly, chances are, you are the problem.Now, that might offend a few of you, and while I am sorry, it has to be said. When you are trying to get your child to listen to you and to do as you say, there are a few things you need to bear in mind.

Amy Schoen is one of the coaches that we found this month and we did a little interview with her. She impressed us with her experience and dedication. Her expertise is in helping people find their soulmate in life. However, it’s not just about finding the soulmate it’s about gaining clarity who that person is. […]

Most people find their way to Tiny Buddha for the same reason—they’re hurting and looking for relief.